India-Australia T20I In Bengaluru In Danger Of Getting Shifted

With just over a fortnight remaining before India welcomes Australia for a T20I and ODI series, the Bengaluru Police have given the BCCI and the KSCA a lot to worry about. The Police department have said that they will be unable to provide security for the first T20I on February 24 due to the Aero India show. The biennial event will be held in the city from February 20-24.

According to The Times of India, the Australian team will land in Bengaluru on February 18 while the Men in Blue will arrive in the city on 20th. However, with the Aero India show scheduled to start from February 20, the Bengaluru police feels it would be tough for them to provide security to both.

T Suneel Kumar, Bengaluru police commissioner, said that the police has already told KSCA about their dilemma before revealing that the prospect of changing the date and venue is also on cards.

“We have told the Karnataka State Cricket Association that it would be difficult to provide security cover for the match. The match is for one day in the evening but the police force will be busy for at least one week in the run-up to the Aero India show which will see a lot of VIP movement. They should look at an alternative date,” Kumar told The Times of India.

 “The KSCA has requested BCCI to change the date of the match or alternatively swap the T20 match on February 27 for Bengaluru’s. Due to the Aero show police have requested KSCA to look at an alternative date to ensure adequate security for the T20 match. KSCA has made an official request to BCCI and we are waiting for the confirmation,” he added.

India will host Australia for three T20Is and five ODIs. The Bengaluru T20I on February 24 will start the tour. The fifth ODI in Delhi on March 13 will end the tour before the Indian Premier League gets underway on March 23.